Uber Denies Showing ‘Ghost Cars’ In App

Alex Rosenblat, Luke Stark

D&S researcher Alex Rosenblat and Luke Stark’s work in Uber’s algorithm-based maps for consumers is quoted in this piece by Übergizmo.

Yesterday a report claimed that Uber shows “ghost cars” to users in its app to give the impression that a large number of cars are available for them to catch a ride on even when users are given long waiting periods for requested rides. Uber is denying that it does this.
Researchers from the Data & Society think tank claimed that the Uber app showed cars present in a user’s locality even when there were none. A customer support representative from the company was also quoted as saying that “this is not a representation of the exact numbers of drivers or their location.”